Dr Sandra Baker

Position: Postdoctoral Researcher

My main interests are in behavioural ecology and animal behaviour, and in applying these to wildlife management. I took my first degree, in Environmental Sciences, at the University of Southampton, specialising in animal behaviour and ecology. I have been a member of WildCRU since 1995, working first as a research assistant on a variety of projects, and completing my DPhil in Zoology here in 2003. My doctoral research focused on developing learned food aversions for the non-lethal management of badgers and foxes. My main interest currently is in researching mole damage and the need for mole control in the UK, and identifying more effective and humane methods of mole control.

Recent publications

 Baker, S.E., Johnson, P.J., Slater, D., Watkins R.W. and Macdonald, D.W. (2007) Learned food aversion with and without an odour cue for protecting untreated baits from wild mammal foraging. In Conservation Enrichment and Animal Behaviour (ed R. Swaisgood) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, special edition, 102 (3-4), 410-428.

Baker, S.E., Singleton, G. and Smith, R.H. (2007). The nature of the beast: using biological processes in vertebrate pest management. Key Topics in Conservation Biology (eds D.W. Macdonald & K. Service), pp. 173-185. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.

Macdonald, D.W. and Baker, S.E. (2006) The State of Britain’s Mammals 2006. WildCRU and Mammals Trust UK: Oxford.

Baker, S.E., Ellwood, S.A., Watkins, R.W. and Macdonald, D.W. (2005) Non-lethal control of wildlife: using chemical repellents as feeding deterrents for the European badger. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42, 921-931.

Baker, S.E., Ellwood, S.A., Watkins, R.W. and Macdonald, D.W. (2005) A dose-response trial with ziram-treated maize and free-ranging European Badgers Meles meles. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 93 (3-4), 309-321.

Macdonald, D.W. and Baker, S.E. (2005) The State of Britain’s Mammals 2005. WildCRU and Mammals Trust UK: Oxford.

McLaren, G.W., Thornton, P.D., Newman, C., Buesching, C.D., Baker, S.E., Mathews, F. and Macdonald, D.W. (2005) High rectal temperature indicates an increased risk of unexpected recovery in anaesthetized badgers. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 32(1), 48-52.

McLaren, G.W., Thornton, P.D., Newman, C., Buesching, C.D., Baker, S.E., Mathews, F. and Macdonald, D.W. (2005) The use and assessment of ketamine-medetomidine-butorphanol combinations for field anaesthesia in wild European badgers (Meles meles). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 32(6), 367-372.

Thornton, P.D., Newman, C., Johnson, P.J., Buesching, C.D., Baker, S.E., Slater, D., Johnson, D.D.P. and Macdonald, D.W. (2005) Preliminary comparison of four anaesthetic techniques in badgers (Meles meles). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 32, 40-47.

Cox, R., Baker, S., Macdonald, D.W. and Berdoy, M. (2004) Protecting egg prey from Carrion Crows: the potential of aversive conditioning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 87 (3-4), 325-342.

Macdonald, D.W. and Baker, S.E. (2004) Non-lethal control of fox predation: the potential of generalised aversion. Animal Welfare, 13, 77-85.

Macdonald, D.W., Buesching, C.D., Stopka, P., Henderson, J., Ellwood, S.A., and Baker, S.E. (2004) Encounters between two sympatric carnivores: Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and European badgers (Meles meles). Journal of Zoology, 263, 385-392.

Aebischer, N.J., Baker, S.E., Johnson, P.J., Macdonald, D.W. and Reynolds, J.C. (2003) Hunting and fox numbers in the United Kingdom. Nature; Brief Communications, 423, 400.

Baker, S.E. and Macdonald, D.W. (2000) Foxes and foxhunting in Wiltshire; a case study. Journal of Rural Studies, 16, 185-201.

Baker, S.E. and Macdonald, D.W. (1999) Non-lethal predator control: exploring the options. In Advances in Vertebrate Pest Management (eds P.D. Cowan & C.J. Feare), pp. 251-266. Filander Verlag, Furth.